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Via Art Fund Inc

EIN 46-1396192 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VIA ART FUND IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHERE ART PATRONS JOIN FORCES AS PARTNERS IN A NEW MODEL OF PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT VISIONARY INITIATIVES IN ART.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$235,509, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. FOUNDED IN 2013, THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HAS GARNERED GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS BOLD YET RIGOROUS GRANTMAKING, AS WELL AS ITS UNIQUE PHILANTHROPIC MODEL CENTERED UPON A HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY DONOR ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. VIA ART FUND SUPPORTS ARTISTS, CURATORS, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BIENNIALS PRIMARILY IN THE UNITED STATES YET INCREASINGLY WORLDWIDE, UNDERWRITING INNOVATIVE ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS WITH FAR-REACHING PUBLIC IMPACT REALIZED IN VARIOUS FORMS INCLUDING EXHIBITIONS, PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS, CURATORIAL RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, SYMPOSIA AND MORE. DEDICATED TO PROMOTING DIVERSE VOICES AND REACHING BROAD AUDIENCES, VIA ART FUND CHAMPIONS ARTIST PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS TODAY'S PRESSING SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ARTISTIC QUESTIONS AND THAT CHALLENGE NOTIONS OF TRADITIONAL EXHIBITION CIRCUMSTANCES. AS A FAST-GROWING GRANTMAKER WITH EXPANDING PROGRAMS, VIA ART FUND OFFERS A POWERFUL PLATFORM FOR GALVANIZING ARTS PHILANTHROPY.VIA ART FUND GRANTS EXEMPLIFY VIA'S GRANTMAKING CORE VALUES OF ARTISTIC PRODUCTION, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND ARE AWARDED IN THREE GRANT PROGRAMS: VIA'S FLAGSHIP ARTISTIC PRODUCTION FUND, AND THE VIA CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIP. VIA ARTISTIC PRODUCTION FUND GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO FUND THE PRODUCTION, EXHIBITION, (SEMI) PERMANENT INSTALLATION AND/OR INSTITUTIONAL ACQUISITION OF NEW ARTISTIC COMMISSIONS IN THE PUBLIC REALM. VIA SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL EXHIBITION ENVIRONMENTS; PENETRATE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS; AND ENLIGHTEN, INSPIRE, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. WHEN POSSIBLE, VIA ARTISTIC PRODUCTION GRANTS ARE MADE WITH THE INTENTION TO GIFT A WORK OF ART TO A PUBLIC CULTURAL INSTITUTION ONCE PRODUCTION AND EXHIBITION ARE COMPLETE, ENSURING THAT VIA-FUNDED ARTWORKS LIVE ON TO ENCOUNTER NEW AUDIENCES UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. THE VIA CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIP, AN ANNUAL AWARD IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S VISIONARY CURATORIAL VOICES, PROVIDES DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO A CURATOR TO ENABLE ASPIRATIONAL RESEARCH AND REFLECTION, SUPPORTS TRAVEL AND/OR CONVENINGS OR ENABLES OTHER SCHOLARLY ENDEAVORS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE CURATOR'S INDIVIDUAL CURATORIAL PRACTICE.THE VIA EDUCATION PROGRAM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROGRAMMING OF VIA ART FUND. VIA PATRONS MEET SEMI-ANNUALLY TO REVIEW GRANT PROPOSALS ACCOMPANIED BY IN-PERSON OR VIDEO PRESENTATIONS BY ARTISTS, CURATORS, AND INSTITUTIONAL PROFESSIONALS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART LANDSCAPE THROUGH AN ANNUAL CALENDAR OF TRAVEL, STUDIO VISITS, EXHIBITION TOURS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION WITH THE ARTISTS, CURATORS AND INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED BY VIA. THROUGH THIS HIGH LEVEL OF DIRECT ENGAGEMENT, VIA SUPPORTERS ENJOY A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.